{{Support vote}} Collins voted for HR 1960 - the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014. The bill passed the House on June 14, 2013, with a vote of 315 - 108. Both parties were somewhat divided on the vote.<ref name=chris>[http://votesmart.org/candidate/139770/chris-collins?categoryId=61&type=V,S,R,E,F,P,E#.Uo-HDsSkp7c ''Project Vote Smart,'' "National Security," accessed September 16, 2013]</ref>

{{Support vote}} Collins voted for HR 1960 - the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014. The bill passed the House on June 14, 2013, with a vote of 315 - 108. Both parties were somewhat divided on the vote.<ref name=chris>[http://votesmart.org/candidate/139770/chris-collins?categoryId=61&type=V,S,R,E,F,P,E#.Uo-HDsSkp7c ''Project Vote Smart,'' "National Security," accessed September 16, 2013]</ref>

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=====Department of Homeland Security Appropriations=====

+

=====DHS Appropriations=====

{{Support vote}} Collins voted for HR 2217 - the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2014. The bill passed the House on June 6, 2013, with a vote of 245 - 182 that was largely along party lines.<ref name=chris>[http://votesmart.org/candidate/139770/chris-collins?categoryId=61&type=V,S,R,E,F,P,E#.Uo-HDsSkp7c ''Project Vote Smart,'' "National Security," accessed September 16, 2013]</ref>

{{Support vote}} Collins voted for HR 2217 - the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2014. The bill passed the House on June 6, 2013, with a vote of 245 - 182 that was largely along party lines.<ref name=chris>[http://votesmart.org/candidate/139770/chris-collins?categoryId=61&type=V,S,R,E,F,P,E#.Uo-HDsSkp7c ''Project Vote Smart,'' "National Security," accessed September 16, 2013]</ref>

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{{Oppose vote}} Collins voted against House Amendment 69, which would have amended HR 3 to "require that the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security, conduct a study of the vulnerabilities of the Keystone XL pipeline to a terrorist attack and certify that necessary protections have been put in place." The amendment failed on May 22, 2013, with a vote of 176 - 239 and was largely along party lines.<ref name=chris>[http://votesmart.org/candidate/139770/chris-collins?categoryId=61&type=V,S,R,E,F,P,E#.Uo-HDsSkp7c ''Project Vote Smart,'' "National Security," accessed September 16, 2013]</ref>

{{Oppose vote}} Collins voted against House Amendment 69, which would have amended HR 3 to "require that the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security, conduct a study of the vulnerabilities of the Keystone XL pipeline to a terrorist attack and certify that necessary protections have been put in place." The amendment failed on May 22, 2013, with a vote of 176 - 239 and was largely along party lines.<ref name=chris>[http://votesmart.org/candidate/139770/chris-collins?categoryId=61&type=V,S,R,E,F,P,E#.Uo-HDsSkp7c ''Project Vote Smart,'' "National Security," accessed September 16, 2013]</ref>

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=====Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act=====

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=====CISPA (2013)=====

{{Support vote}} Collins voted for HR 624 - the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act. The bill passed the House on April 18, 2013, with a vote of 288 - 127. The bill would allow federal intelligence agencies to share cybersecurity intelligence and information with private entities and utilities. The bill was largely supported by Republicans but divided the Democratic Party.<ref name=chris>[http://votesmart.org/candidate/139770/chris-collins?categoryId=61&type=V,S,R,E,F,P,E#.Uo-HDsSkp7c ''Project Vote Smart,'' "National Security," accessed September 16, 2013]</ref>

{{Support vote}} Collins voted for HR 624 - the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act. The bill passed the House on April 18, 2013, with a vote of 288 - 127. The bill would allow federal intelligence agencies to share cybersecurity intelligence and information with private entities and utilities. The bill was largely supported by Republicans but divided the Democratic Party.<ref name=chris>[http://votesmart.org/candidate/139770/chris-collins?categoryId=61&type=V,S,R,E,F,P,E#.Uo-HDsSkp7c ''Project Vote Smart,'' "National Security," accessed September 16, 2013]</ref>

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====Immigration====

====Immigration====

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=====Morton Memos Enforcement Prohibition=====

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=====Morton Memos Prohibition=====

{{Support vote}} Collins voted for House Amendment 136 - Prohibits the Enforcement of the Immigration Executive Order. The amendment was adopted by the House on June 6, 2013, with a vote of 224 - 201. The purpose of the amendment as stated on the official text is to "prohibit the use of funds to finalize, implement, administer, or enforce the Morton Memos." These memos would have granted administrative amnesty to certain illegal aliens residing in the United States.<ref>[http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d113:hamdt136: ''The Library of Congress,'' "H.AMDT.136," accessed September 16, 2013]</ref> The vote largely followed party lines.<ref>[https://votesmart.org/bill/votes/44693#.UjdQYz9-q1c ''Project Vote Smart,'' "H Amdt 136 - Prohibits the Enforcement of the Immigration Executive Order - Voting Record," accessed September 16, 2013]</ref>

{{Support vote}} Collins voted for House Amendment 136 - Prohibits the Enforcement of the Immigration Executive Order. The amendment was adopted by the House on June 6, 2013, with a vote of 224 - 201. The purpose of the amendment as stated on the official text is to "prohibit the use of funds to finalize, implement, administer, or enforce the Morton Memos." These memos would have granted administrative amnesty to certain illegal aliens residing in the United States.<ref>[http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d113:hamdt136: ''The Library of Congress,'' "H.AMDT.136," accessed September 16, 2013]</ref> The vote largely followed party lines.<ref>[https://votesmart.org/bill/votes/44693#.UjdQYz9-q1c ''Project Vote Smart,'' "H Amdt 136 - Prohibits the Enforcement of the Immigration Executive Order - Voting Record," accessed September 16, 2013]</ref>

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=====Abortion=====

=====Abortion=====

{{Support vote}} Collins voted for HR 1797 - Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. The resolution passed the House on June 18, 2013, with a vote of 228 - 196 that largely followed party lines. The purpose of the bill is to ban abortions that would take place 20 or more weeks after fertilization.<ref>[https://votesmart.org/bill/votes/45098#.UjdRJz9-q1c ''Project Vote Smart,'' "HR 1797 - Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act - Voting Record," accessed September 16, 2013]</ref>

{{Support vote}} Collins voted for HR 1797 - Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. The resolution passed the House on June 18, 2013, with a vote of 228 - 196 that largely followed party lines. The purpose of the bill is to ban abortions that would take place 20 or more weeks after fertilization.<ref>[https://votesmart.org/bill/votes/45098#.UjdRJz9-q1c ''Project Vote Smart,'' "HR 1797 - Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act - Voting Record," accessed September 16, 2013]</ref>

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====Previous congressional sessions====

==Elections==

==Elections==

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{{Congress donor box 2012

{{Congress donor box 2012

|winner = Y

|winner = Y

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|Chamber = U.S. House of Representatives, New York's 27th Congressional District

Based on an analysis of bill sponsorship by ''GovTrack'', Collins is a "[[GovTrack's Political Spectrum & Legislative Leadership ranking|centrist Republican follower,]]" as of November 22, 2013.<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/chris_collins/412563 ''Gov Track'' "Chris Collins," Accessed November 22, 2013]</ref>

===Lifetime voting record===

===Lifetime voting record===

::''See also: [[Lifetime voting records of United States Senators and Representatives]]''

::''See also: [[Lifetime voting records of United States Senators and Representatives]]''

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|RHouse=Y

|RHouse=Y

}}

}}

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==Personal==

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Collins is married with three children.

==Recent news==

==Recent news==

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This section displays the most recent stories in a google news search for the term "'''Chris + Collins + New York + House'''"

This section displays the most recent stories in a google news search for the term "'''Chris + Collins + New York + House'''"

:''All stories may not be relevant to this legislator due to the nature of the search engine.''

:''All stories may not be relevant to this legislator due to the nature of the search engine.''

Issues

Legislative actions

113th Congress

The second session of the 113th Congress enacted into law 114 out of the 3,036 introduced bills (3.8 percent). Comparatively, the 112th Congress had 4.2 percent of introduced bills enacted into law in the second session.[3] For more information pertaining to Collins's voting record in the 113th Congress, please see the below sections.[4]

National security

NDAA

Collins voted for HR 1960 - the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014. The bill passed the House on June 14, 2013, with a vote of 315 - 108. Both parties were somewhat divided on the vote.[5]

DHS Appropriations

Collins voted for HR 2217 - the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2014. The bill passed the House on June 6, 2013, with a vote of 245 - 182 that was largely along party lines.[5]

Keystone Pipeline Amendment

Collins voted against House Amendment 69, which would have amended HR 3 to "require that the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security, conduct a study of the vulnerabilities of the Keystone XL pipeline to a terrorist attack and certify that necessary protections have been put in place." The amendment failed on May 22, 2013, with a vote of 176 - 239 and was largely along party lines.[5]

CISPA (2013)

Collins voted for HR 624 - the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act. The bill passed the House on April 18, 2013, with a vote of 288 - 127. The bill would allow federal intelligence agencies to share cybersecurity intelligence and information with private entities and utilities. The bill was largely supported by Republicans but divided the Democratic Party.[5]

Economy

Government shutdown

On September 30, 2013, the House passed a final stopgap spending bill before the shutdown went into effect. The bill included a one-year delay of the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate and would have also stripped the bill of federal subsidies for congressional members and staff. It passed through the House with a vote of 228-201.[6] At 1 a.m. on October 1, 2013, one hour after the shutdown officially began, the House voted to move forward with going to a conference. In short order, Sen. Harry Reid rejected the call to conference.[7] Collins voted to approve the stopgap spending bill that would have delayed the individual mandate.[8]

The shutdown finally ended on October 16, 2013, when the House took a vote on HR 2775 after it was approved by the Senate. The bill to reopen the government lifted the $16.7 trillion debt limit and funds the government through January 15, 2014. Federal employees also received retroactive pay for the shutdown period. The only concession made by Senate Democrats was to require income verification for Obamacare subsidies.[9] The House passed the legislation shortly after the Senate, by a vote of 285-144, with all 144 votes against the legislation coming from Republican members. Collins voted against HR 2775.[10]

Collins said in a statement, “The American people sent us to Washington to do a job. If we cannot live up to that obligation, we should not be taking a paycheck, a paycheck that is funded by the taxes paid by our fellow hardworking Americans. If the federal government is shut down Members of Congress should not get paid, and we should not be held to a different standard when it comes to Obamacare, either.”[11]

Farm Bill

Collins voted for the Farm Bill on July 11, 2013. The bill passed in a 216-208 vote.[12] The bill passed included farm policy, but did not include food stamps.[13]

Immigration

Morton Memos Prohibition

Collins voted for House Amendment 136 - Prohibits the Enforcement of the Immigration Executive Order. The amendment was adopted by the House on June 6, 2013, with a vote of 224 - 201. The purpose of the amendment as stated on the official text is to "prohibit the use of funds to finalize, implement, administer, or enforce the Morton Memos." These memos would have granted administrative amnesty to certain illegal aliens residing in the United States.[14] The vote largely followed party lines.[15]

Healthcare

Health Care Reform Rules

Collins voted for House Amendment 450 - Requires Congressional Approval for Any Rules Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The amendment was adopted by the House on August 2, 2013, with a vote of 227-185. The amendment requires that all changes to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act be approved by Congress before taking effect. The vote was largely along party lines.[16]

Social issues

Abortion

Collins voted for HR 1797 - Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. The resolution passed the House on June 18, 2013, with a vote of 228 - 196 that largely followed party lines. The purpose of the bill is to ban abortions that would take place 20 or more weeks after fertilization.[17]

Bellavia is an Iraq War veteran and Tea Party activist, and Collins is a former county legislator.[21] Bellavia sought to win as a more conservative candidate than Collins. He pointed out that the former Erie County Executive praised incoming federal stimulus funding when he was in office.[22] Collins, however, did receive the Conservative Party endorsement. State Party Chairman Michael Long commented: "He had a proven record.... Collins would be more competitive against the congresswoman."[23]

According to the Buffalo News, Bellavia was the underdog and rarely recognized by Collins.[24] Bellavia, who wrote a book and subsequently sold the movie rights about his experiences in Iraq, said in taking on Collins he took on the "Erie County (political) machine."[24]

Both candidates were largely self-funded, with Collins self-funding $250,000 and Bellavia $45,000. Reports also show that Collins raised another $5,750, and Bellavia raised $50,000 in addition to his own contribution.[25]

Campaign donors

Comprehensive donor information for Collins is available dating back to 2012. Based on available campaign finance records, Collins raised a total of $1,327,521 during that time period. This information was last updated on March 23, 2013.[26]

Lifetime voting record

According to the website GovTrack, Collins missed 6 of 102 roll call votes from Jan 2013 to Apr 2013, which is 5.9% of votes during that period. This is worse than the median of 2.2% among the lifetime records of representatives currently serving.[39]

Like-minded colleagues

The website OpenCongress tracks the voting records of each member to determine with whom he or she votes most and least often. The results include a member from each party.[40]

Net worth

2011

Based on congressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available by OpenSecrets.org, Collins' net worth as of 2011 was estimated between $13,308,039 to $107,394,996. That averages to $60,351,517, which is higher than the average net worth of Republican House members in 2011 of $7,859,232.[41]

Voting with party

2013

Chris Collins voted with the Republican Party 94.1 of the time, which ranked 112 among the 234 House Republican members as of June 2013.[42]